China Liaoning aircraft carrier J-15 fighter jet
A Chinese navy officer takes photos with the public in front of a J-15 fighter jet aboard the aircraft carrier Liaoning in July 2017.
  • China's fleet of aircraft carriers has grown quickly, expanding from one to three in a decade.
  • To use that fleet effectively, China's navy also has to train pilots to operate carrier aircraft.
  • To find enough pilots for what could be six carriers, China's navy is expanding its recruiting pool.

Eager to find pilots for its growing fleet of aircraft carriers, China is turning to a new source of manpower — in this case, woman power.